Can body



C. H. ERNE CAN BODY Nov. 18, 1941.

Filed Oct. 8, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 7 fi..-

TTORNEYS Nov. 18, 1941. c, H, ERNE 2,262,758

CAN BODY Filed Oct. 8, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOIRNEYJ Patented Nov. 18, 1941 CAN BODY Charles H. Erne, Maywoo d, J., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N'. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 8, 1937, SerialNo. 168,077

1 Claim.

The present. invention relates in general to the reenforcement of sheet metal cans and has particular reference to the construction of a reenforced can body having a side seam which unites the edge portions of a can body blank in a lapped lug and slot connection which when soldered greatly strengthens the cans against both internal expanding and external contracting forces.

The invention contemplates the provision of a side seam construction which includes virtually a full lapped soldered seam and one having the additional feature of a plurality of interlocked lugs and slots which insure a firmer union of the seam parts and which provide a construction which may more fully resist any slippage of the lapped sections under strains occasioned by internal can pressures or external collapsing pressures, thus avoiding sole dependance for seam strength upon the solder bond which unites the parts.

An object of the invention is the provision of a can body having a soldered, reenforced side seam which has the full strength of a fully lapped soldered seam and in addition has interlocked regions formed by tongues or lugs in one seam section interengaging in slots in the other seam part.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a can body having a soldered lap side seam reenforced by the interlocking of a single row of slot sections in one lap with a single row of complementary lug ortongue sections in the other lap, without severing and weakening the outer edges of the respective laps.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a can body embodying the present invention the view illustrating the can body after its side seam has been fully closed, soldered and thereby hermetically sealed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the formed tubular can body blank showing the lug and slot construction prior to lapping and engaging the marginal edges to form the side seam;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the tubular can body resulting from the interengaging of the slots and lugs and from the full lapping of the marginal edges of the blank;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken through the lapped soldered seam as viewed along the section line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar transverse section drawn to the same scale. and taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 3 and, showing the interengaging of a lug and-slot prior to soldering;

Fig. 6 is a similar enlarged section taken along the line 6+6 in Fig. 1 and showing the interengaged and fully soldered lug and slot construction of the side seam;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinalsection on an enlarged scale taken through one end of the side seam and along the line 'I--'| in Fig. 1 illustrating suflicient of the soldered side seam to include two of the lug and slot units;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of tubular can body blank illustrating a different type of slot and lug construction;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional View of an engaged and partially formed slot and groove of this modified form, as viewed along the section line 99 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail similar to Fig. 9 and showing the seam parts after they have been fully formed and soldered; and.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the modified side seam as would appear if viewed along the line II-I I in Fig. 10.

As shown in the drawings a metal can body A having a side seam B is produced from a can body blank having marginal edge sections and the blank when brought into tubular form provides a partially completed can body C (Fig. 2). Such a body may have marginal edge sections I2 and I3 which are adapted to be brought into lapped engagement to form the side seam B. Rectangular slots I4 are cut out of the blank wall in a single row and these extend adjacent the edge of the can body blank and come within the marginal edge section or outer lap I2. Struck out lugs I5, also rectangular in form, are pressed outwardly from the blank wall and these also extend'in a single row within the marginal edge section or inner lap I3. The free edge of each lug projects away from the edge of the blank as best shown in Fig. 2.

The can body blank adjacent the ends of its marginal edge I2 is preferably cut away along a line It at a slight incline and rolled into a double seam when the can ends are subsequently seamed on. The entire marginal edge I2 is also offset at I! the depth of offset being slightly in excess of the thickness of the metal, as best illustrated in Fig. 5. In like manner the marginal edge of the can body blank is offset as at I8.

After the formed body blank C (Fig. 2) is ready for the completion of its side scam the marginal edges I2 and I3 are brought together into lapped relation, the edge I2 forming the outer lap. At the same time the lugs I5 are passed through the slots I4. In the lapped position (Fig. 5) each lug I5 extends through its slot at an angle and provides for an interlock-I ing of the seam parts.

After the seam parts have been brought together the can body is subjected tothe usual bumping action and each lug I5 at that time is pressed down and bent at I9 this being at the end of the lug where it projects beyond the slot,

comes into metal to metal contact with the outside of the marginal edge I2 and this marginal edge in its turn is in metal to metal contact with the marginal edge I3.

The solder which flows in between the lapped sections of the seam extends in area over the entire .ofiset pockets formed. by ofisetting at H and I8 and the completed side seam B has a thickness only slightly in excess of double the.

thickness of the metalofthe can body.

The length of each slot equal to the width of each struck out lug I5, as best shown in Fig. '7, and this provides a rigid interengaging of the seam parts and prevents any tendency of the parts, to shift. The full holding strength of a lapped soldered side seam has thus been augmented by the additional interlocking action of the interengaged lugs and slots and. after the ends I9 of the lugs I5 have been laid down into close contact with the body wall and soldered, there is produce a secure bond that not only will'resist radial disturbance but also will prevent either longitudinal shifting Of the seam parts or a pulling open of the seam.

In the modified form illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, the marginal edges of the can body blank C are not offset as in the preferred form. The marginal edge section which will become the outer lap in the finished seam is des-; ignated by the numeral and the other margi-' nal edge section or inner lap by the numeral 26.

In this form the marginal edge 25 is provided; with struck up lugs 21 each lug being bent in-. wardly at an acute angle with its free edge projecting toward the edge of the blank. The lugs are spaced from each other and are arranged:

in a single row adjacent and parallel to the edge of the marginal section 25. edge section 26 is provided with a series of slots 28 which in the same manner are spaced from each other. These slots also are arranged in a I 4 is substantially.

The marginal single row adjacent and parallel to the edge of the marginal section. V

In producing the can body from this form of blank the marginal edge sections 25, 26 are brought into lapped position and the inwardly bent lugs 21 are inserted through the slots 28, as illustrated in Fig. 9. The marginal edges are then bumped in the regular way and the free end of each lug as at 29 is'bent down against the inner wall of the body. Itis in this closed position that the side seam is fluxed and soldered in the usual manner, the numeral 3| (Figs. 10 and 11) indicating the solder which flows between and binds all of the engaged surfaces of the metal and also fills the slots 28.

It will be again seen that in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 the thickness of the metal is greatly exaggerated as is also the thickness of the solder. In reality the metal parts of the seam are in close metal to metal contact when bump-ed and the solder is caused to flow in between the surface by capillary attraction in the usual manner.

As best shown in Fig. 11, the width of each lug 21 is substantially equal to the length of its corresponding slot 28 and this provides a secure locking means for the various parts of the seam. Such a slot and lug engagement does not lessen any of the advantages of a fully lapped and soldered seam but does prevent radial o1:

longitudinal slippage of the marginal [edges or pulling apart of the seam. There results therefore a secure binding of these edges and it is notv necessary to depend entirely upon the strength of the solder in determining the full strength of the seam. v v g It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described be ing merely a preferred embodiment thereof I claim:

A reenforced can body comprising a tubular blank having opposed marginal edge portions, each offset throughout its length for at least the thickness of the blank and overlappingth-e other in a soldered side seam, one of 'said marstruck out in a single row from the-other offset marginal edge portion, said lugs projecting back and away from the edge, and extending through;

said slots with their free ends bent down into close engagement with adjacent wall parts of the blank and solder interposed between all engaging parts of said side seam, said overlapped oilset portions preventing slippage of the blank at the side seam during assembly and insuring the provision of a tubular can body of uniform width;

throughout.

CHARLES H. ERNE. f 4 1 

